DENVER (KDVR) — A family member who was cleaning out a garage to help a Fort Collins resident who recently moved broke and spilled a glass vial of mercury Monday, prompting a hazmat response.
The Poudre Fire Authority Hazmat Team was called into the 600 block of Atwood Court in Fort Collins. The team works out of Station 10 on Vermont Drive and is tasked with responding to unknown substance spills and unique situations such as the one presented on Monday.
2 state chemists on leave, accused of manipulating water control data
The agency said for some crew members, this mercury spill was a first. The Poudre Fire Authority shared that mercury is a nervous system disrupter, and while usually harmless to the touch, it can be extremely dangerous when breathed in. Mercury is sensitive to changes in temperature and can become a gas if heated.
The vial was estimated to be decades old, likely dating to the 1960s or 1970s.
“This is a good reminder that you never know what you might find when it comes to deep cleaning, especially when moving into a new property that may have belongings from a previous tenant left behind,” the Poudre Fire Authority said in a release. “Use caution and never hesitate to call if you come across an ‘unknown substance.’ The Hazmat Team and other first responders have the training and skills to help.”